Since the unfortunate failure of Beagle-2, the already weak UK Space aspirations became difficult to find – a far cry from the enthusiasm with which rising power China and the high profile US missions coordinated by NASA. The UK now has a very real opportunity to go to the moon by exploiting UK developed high technology at low cost.

Scientists have taken the first steps towards creating a Harry Potter-style cloak of invisibility. Professor John Pendry, from Imperial College London, said that it may not take long to develop an invisible fabric – assuming there is sufficient research into the technology.

A new study by the US Air Force has suggested a cheaper method of sending satellites (possibly missile weapons) into orbit. A ring of superconducting magnets would contain and propel a payload, accelerating it over a period of hours, before suddenly powering down the magnets and flinging the satellite into space at 23 times the speed of sound.

Of all the uses of satellites, locating the Pied Piper is one I had not conceived. Neglected islands are bring allowed to return to nature and with the absence of man the age of rats has not gone unnoticed. The DMC isn’t just used for monitoring natural disasters, rodent rampages too.

With Galileo in the pipeline and next generation GPS (Navstar) advances being announced there has been talk of Satnav scuffles in the press. Let’s not forget that the Russians have Glonass and that all of these systems aspire to combine in a GNSS – combined navigation system for the good of all. Rob Coppinger, Flight International discusses.

NY Times view on the Pluto “demotion” is interesting. It seems everyone has their own view. It is still there though, I guess the real question is whether it is dull or exciting. That’s where New Horizons comes in.